Hello All, I have done brake jobs on 55 Chevys.Vetts. Mustangs etc. This is my first time with A's. I have read several times Les Andrews books on Brake R & R's. I have several Questions. !. is there a top or bottom on brake shoes ??? My reason for this question is metal brake shoe contact area where shoe meets track shoe area is a little ruff, I want to switch rollers to other end of shoes. 2. is it ok to use used shoes as long as they have enough Meat?3.how freely should rollers move when installed on brake shoes. ? Thanks to all your help. !!!
R & R Brakes Shoes & Rollers
- Thread starter Spokes
- Start date
Kevin in NJ
Well-known member
Model A brakes are not like any of the other systems you have dealt with in the past.
You need to know you have good wedges, rollers and such. The repro parts are good from sources such as Brattons.
The pins that go in each end of the shoes are supposed to be snug. The head that goes on the track should not turn.
The other end that goes to the adjuster needs to be snug on the shoe so the shoe does not flop.
The shoes must have a slightly smaller radius then the drum. The shoes must also be centered when they are set to the correct diameter. Keep in mind the adjuster effectively moves the center of the shoes towards the wedge side.
There are many considerations to keep in mind as you do the brakes if you want them to work right. You are usually having to undo many years of making do with worn and improperly installed parts.
It is never quick, easy or cheap to get the brakes on the A to work right.
You need to know you have good wedges, rollers and such. The repro parts are good from sources such as Brattons.
The pins that go in each end of the shoes are supposed to be snug. The head that goes on the track should not turn.
The other end that goes to the adjuster needs to be snug on the shoe so the shoe does not flop.
The shoes must have a slightly smaller radius then the drum. The shoes must also be centered when they are set to the correct diameter. Keep in mind the adjuster effectively moves the center of the shoes towards the wedge side.
There are many considerations to keep in mind as you do the brakes if you want them to work right. You are usually having to undo many years of making do with worn and improperly installed parts.
It is never quick, easy or cheap to get the brakes on the A to work right.
The Master Cylinder
Well-known member
RandyinUtah
Senior Member
Take your time and money and do the job 100 percent and you will have good brakes. Use the search feature on this site ( search Brakes) and you will find a wealth of information on how to get the job done right.
Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
Do you mean the shoe is rough from being ground against the drum? If that's the case, I'd smooth it if it has high spots, by using a few strokes of the file. Yes, you can swap end for end if you want to, just be sure the roller pin has a good fit in it's hole in the shoe.
Years ago I worked in the auto parts store and machine shop for a couple years, and we couldn't accept any shoe that had even the lightest mark from touching the drum. Seemed a bit extreme to me, but that's the way it was.
Years ago I worked in the auto parts store and machine shop for a couple years, and we couldn't accept any shoe that had even the lightest mark from touching the drum. Seemed a bit extreme to me, but that's the way it was.